1. Academic Validation
  2. Celastrol ameliorates Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis via inhibiting LOX-1

Celastrol ameliorates Aspergillus fumigatus keratitis via inhibiting LOX-1

  • Int Immunopharmacol. 2019 May;70:101-109. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.02.017.
Qiaoqiao Sun 1 Cui Li 1 Jing Lin 1 Xudong Peng 1 Qian Wang 1 Nan Jiang 1 Qiang Xu 1 Guiqiu Zhao 2
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China.
  • 2 Department of Ophthalmology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Electronic address: [email protected].
Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the effect of Celastrol (CLT) on Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) keratitis.

Methods: Primary peritoneal macrophages of C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with CLT before A. fumigatus hyphae stimulation. C57BL/6 mice were infected with A. fumigatus. Mice corneas were treated with CLT from 1 day post Infection. Clinical score, PCR, ELISA and Western blot were used to test expression of anti-inflammatory mediators, proinflammatory mediators and Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1(LOX-1). The protein levels of p38MAPK after pretreated with CLT in macrophages of C57BL/6 mice challenged with A. fumigatus were tested by Western blot.

Results: C57BL/6 mice treated with CLT from 1 day post Infection showed decreased disease, IL-1β, TNF-α, IL-10, TGF-β, MIP-2 and LOX-1 levels. CLT treatment markedly inhibiting mRNA and proteins levels of anti-inflammatory mediators, proinflammatory mediators and LOX-1 in macrophages of C57BL/6 mice compared with control group. CLT pretreatment before A. fumigatus stimulation obviously inhibiting protein levels of p38MAPK versus DMSO pretreated group in macrophages of C57BL/6 mice challenged with A. fumigatus.

Conclusion: These data provide evidences that CLT ameliorates A. fumigatus keratitis of C57BL/6 mice via inhibiting LOX-1. CLT pretreatment before A. fumigatus stimulation decreased levels of inflammation in macrophages of C57BL/6 mice, which may be regulated by p-p38MAPK.

Keywords

Aspergillus fumigatus; C57BL/6 mice; Celastrol; Keratitis; LOX-1.

Figures